Superdata research suggests significant early adoption of VR headsets in the coming year

Virtual Reality will reach 11m users by 2016

A new report estimates that 10.8m people will own a virtual reality headset by next year.

The statistic comes from Superdata, which estimates that 46 per cent of these VR device purchases will be for PC, while console and mobile will be relatively evenly split at 28 and 26 per cent respectively.

1.3m headsets were sold in 2014 alone.

"There are currently over 200 developers working on virtual reality projects and 15 different virtual reality HMDs [head-mounted devices] at different stages of completion," the company writes. "A wave of PC devices will launch in mid 2015, while the first console device will launch in mid-to-late 2016."

The console device is, of course, PlayStation’s Project Morpheus. Sony is expected to detail plans for this product at GDC next month.

Superdata also reports that $2.6bn was invested in VR and augmented reality firms and projects in 2014. In addition to Facebook’s acquisition of pioneers Oculus VR, 18 virtual reality companies received a combined $590 in investments.

Games make up 76 per cent of all virtual reality content, although children’s entertainment and full-length video content is drawing interest.

About MCV Staff

Check Also

Blog header 2026 IG50 [Industry news] Ubisoft backs IG50 Awards as Into Games opens applications for 2026 cohort

[Industry news] Ubisoft backs IG50 Awards as Into Games opens applications for 2026 cohort

UK games charity Into Games has today opened applications for IG50 2026, its annual programme that recognises 50 of the most talented yet-to-be-hired people in UK games from working-class and low-income backgrounds. The announcement comes as Ubisoft joins as the headline sponsor and as Into Games confirms that 11 winners from the previous 2025 cohort have been placed in paid roles in the UK games industry through its Boost placement programme.